Becoming a mother is a significant transition in a woman's life, and while this is a positive experience for many, there can be significant decreases in healthful behaviors such as physical activity and increases in unhealthy behaviors including sleep deprivation, stress, and depressive symptoms. Increasing postpartum physical activity can have multiple health benefits including risk reduction for chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and improvement in psychological health including decreased stress and depressive symptoms. Improvements in mental health outcomes can prevent substance use since psychological stress is a risk factor for substance use and abuse. The postpartum period also represents a critical period to prevent a return to substance use, including tobacco and alcohol.